82% of adolescents and young people say they have witnessed a violation of the rights of another child, while the number of young people who are sufficiently informed about the rights of the child, as they are formulated in the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, is small.

The above is the result of a survey conducted through the platform of UNICEF and the Children’s Rights Network “U-Report Greece”, which provides adolescents and young people with a platform to express their opinions on issues that concern them. This survey involved 384 teenagers and young people aged 14 to 34 from all over Greece. 65% of the participants were aged 15-19.

58% of the survey participants believe that the fundamental rights of children are partially observed in practice, 21% – that they are all observed, 13% – that none of the children’s rights is observed.

71% were present when a child’s rights were violated but did not react, either because they were afraid or because they did not know how to react, and only 11% were present and reacted, informing a responsible adult. 18% of the participants stated that they had no violations before them.

Young people were asked if they know what a child should do if their rights are violated, and 67% answered that they should contact the competent authority or body, 28% parents and 5% teachers.

When asked if the participants were aware of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, which has been Greek law for 30 years, the answers were divided. 31% answered that they know it, 34% that they do not know it, and 35% that they have heard something but would like to know more. Accordingly, 46% said they knew some of the rights contained in the Convention, but not all, only 12% said they knew the rights under the Convention, and 25% said they did not know them, and 16% said they did. not sure / sure.

26% believe they will find information about children’s rights at school, 24% on social media, 31% on NGO websites, and 5% from friends or relatives. 14% say they don’t know where to find information.

Young people call for the development of a national strategy to improve the lives of children and young people (41%), adequate laws to protect children’s rights (22%), the cultivation of a culture that promotes children’s rights (21%), and sufficient information from all agencies for children’s rights (9 %).

“The survey clearly points to the need for systematic and continuous education in the field of children’s rights,” said Panos Christodoulou, director of the Children’s Rights Network, in an interview with APE-MPE.

As he adds, “Unfortunately, most of the young people who took part in the survey know nothing or very little about the Convention on the Rights of the Child and that it is also Greek law. This highlights the problem in education, as well as in the mentality of previous generations and rulers, since it is not a priority. It is also important to note that adolescents and young people do not know where to find information about the rights that directly affect them.”

He describes as reassuring “the fact that those same children who do not know their rights in depth want education and concrete action related to their rights and understand that in order to be respected in practice, a national strategy must be developed. . and culture for the benefit of man.

On the occasion of World Children’s Day on 20 November, and today’s World Human Rights Day, “Children show us the way. In combination with the ongoing cases of abuse and other violations of children’s rights that are being identified, the above investigation is a good reason to finally listen to children and take action,” concludes the Director of the Network.

It is noted that the U-Report platform was created by UNICEF in 2011 and is used by more than 20 million children and young people aged 14-35 in 91 countries to express their opinions on political and social issues that concern them. In Greece, the platform works in partnership with the Network for the Rights of the Child.

The specific survey will be presented at an event on Tuesday 13 December from 12:00 to 14:00 at the Spiritual Center of the Municipality of Athens. Children’s advocate Theoni Koufonikolaku will attend the event to comment on the survey results and discuss them with three U-Reporters.

MONKEY BEE